The UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Recruitment Exam offers qualified advocates an opportunity to enter government prosecution services.
The Union Public Service Commission recruits Assistant Public Prosecutors (APPs) for various departments and agencies.
Additionally, for details, refer to UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Recruitment Exam 2026-27: Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern and PYQs.
For the 2026 recruitment cycle, UPSC advertised 140 Assistant Public Prosecutor vacancies in the Government of NCT of Delhi under Advertisement No. 11/2026. Separate APP vacancies were also advertised for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Government of Puducherry.
UPSC has scheduled a Combined Recruitment Test for 9 January 2027, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This examination will shortlist candidates for interviews across several advertised legal posts.
This guide explains the verified recruitment details, eligibility requirements, examination pattern, syllabus, selection process, salary, previous-year question papers and preparation strategies.
UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Exam 2026-27: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post | Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) |
| Principal recruitment covered | Directorate of Prosecution, Government of NCT of Delhi |
| Delhi advertisement | 11/2026 |
| Vacancy number | 26091106212 |
| Delhi vacancies | 140 |
| Additional APP vacancies | 5 in CBI and 5 in Puducherry |
| Delhi educational qualification | Degree in Law from a recognised university or institute |
| Delhi experience requirement | Three years at the Bar |
| Delhi age limit | 35 years for UR/EWS, with applicable relaxations |
| Delhi pay scale | Pay Level 10 under the Seventh CPC |
| Application closing date | 2 October 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Recruitment Test date | 9 January 2027 |
| Examination mode | Offline, pen-and-paper-based objective test |
| Examination language | English |
| Selection process | Recruitment Test followed by interview |
| Official website | www.upsc.gov.in |
Status as of 14 November 2026: Applications for the Delhi APP posts under Advertisement 11/2026 have closed. The Combined Recruitment Test is scheduled for January 2027.
Candidates should consult the official UPSC recruitment advertisement and the Combined Recruitment Test notice.
What is the UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Recruitment Exam 2026-27: Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern and PYQs?
The Assistant Public Prosecutor represents the prosecution before criminal courts and assists in administering criminal justice.
Under the Delhi recruitment, APPs primarily conduct criminal cases before Metropolitan Magistrates on behalf of the Government of NCT of Delhi.
The advertised responsibilities include conducting prosecutions, advising police officers in criminal cases, maintaining case records and performing other assigned legal duties.
An APP must understand criminal statutes, procedural safeguards, evidentiary principles and prosecutorial ethics. The position also requires effective courtroom advocacy and careful assessment of investigation records.
UPSC APP recruitment is not one uniform annual examination. UPSC advertises posts for different departments, and the eligibility conditions may differ.
For example, a Delhi APP vacancy requiring three years of Bar experience should not be confused with a CBI APP vacancy governed by separate recruitment conditions.
UPSC APP Recruitment 2026: Latest Notification and Important Dates
UPSC issued Advertisement No. 11/2026 in September 2026, covering 140 Delhi APP vacancies.
The Commission subsequently published a clarification concerning OBC reservation for these posts.
On 28 October 2026, UPSC published the Combined Recruitment Test notice covering 16 legal recruitment cases, including the Delhi, CBI and Puducherry APP vacancies.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. 11/2026 | September 2026 |
| Online applications opened | 12 September 2026 |
| Delhi APP application deadline | 2 October 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Combined RT notice uploaded | 28 October 2026 |
| Recruitment Test | 9 January 2027 |
| Test timing | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM |
| Admit card | To be released three weeks before the test, as stated in the notice |
| Interview | Schedule not yet verified |
| Final result | Not yet announced |
Applicants should follow the UPSC Recruitment Test notices for subsequent instructions.
UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Vacancy 2026
The Government of NCT of Delhi advertised 140 permanent APP posts through UPSC.
Delhi APP category-wise vacancies
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 50 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 14 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 37 |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 30 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 9 |
| Total | 140 |
Eight vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) within the advertised total. Two of these are identified as backlog PwBD vacancies.
These reservations must not be added again to the overall vacancy count.
Other UPSC APP vacancies in 2026
| Recruiting department | Vacancies | Advertisement |
|---|---|---|
| Government of NCT of Delhi | 140 | 11/2026 |
| Central Bureau of Investigation | 5 | 06/2026 |
| Government of Puducherry | 5 | 06/2026 |
| Total APP vacancies across these advertisements | 150 |
The Combined Recruitment Test includes these posts, but eligibility remains specific to each department.
UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Eligibility Criteria
Candidates should verify their qualifications against the particular advertisement and applicable recruitment rules.
The following conditions concern the 140 Delhi APP vacancies under Advertisement 11/2026.
1. Educational qualification
Candidates must possess a Degree in Law from a recognized university or institute.
A recognized LL.B. qualification meets the educational description, subject to UPSC’s verification requirements.
The degree alone does not establish eligibility. Candidates must also satisfy the prescribed professional experience requirement.
2. Professional experience
The Delhi APP advertisement prescribes three years of experience at the Bar.
Experience as a government advocate is listed as a desirable qualification.
Candidates should maintain reliable documentation demonstrating their legal practice, including relevant experience certificates and supporting records.
The advertisement provides limited discretionary relaxation provisions. Candidates should not assume that these automatically exempt them from the experience requirement.
3. Age limit
The age requirements in Advertisement 11/2026 are:
| Category | Upper age limit |
|---|---|
| UR/EWS | 35 years |
| OBC | 38 years |
| SC/ST | 40 years |
| PwBD | Further relaxation up to 10 years, subject to applicable conditions |
The relevant closing date for the Delhi vacancy was 2 October 2026.
Other relaxations apply where candidates satisfy the governing rules and documentary requirements.
4. Special age relaxation for contractual employees
The advertisement also provides a one-time age-relaxation arrangement for qualifying contractual employees.
The maximum relaxation is five years, linked to qualifying service within the concerned department. The conditions include the requirement of at least 180 days of contractual work.
Only contractual employees satisfying the advertisement’s specified conditions may claim this benefit. Documentary certification from the concerned department is required.
5. Important clarification concerning Delhi OBC reservation
UPSC issued a specific clarification for OBC applicants under the Delhi APP recruitment.
The clarification restricts OBC reservation benefits to eligible applicants holding certificates issued by the Government of NCT of Delhi for communities appearing in its applicable OBC list.
Candidates holding OBC certificates from other states or Union Territories must examine the clarification carefully. Such applicants may be considered against unreserved vacancies, subject to the applicable conditions.
Refer to the official UPSC Delhi APP clarification.
UPSC APP Application Process and Fees
Applications for the 2026 Delhi recruitment were submitted through UPSC’s online recruitment system.
The application window for Advertisement 11/2026 is now closed.
For future recruitment cycles, candidates should follow the procedure prescribed in the relevant advertisement.
The 2026 process required applicants to register, provide personal and educational details, submit supporting documentation and complete the applicable fee payment.
Applicants were also instructed to preserve their submitted application and identification details for subsequent verification.
Application fees under Advertisement 11/2026
| Candidate category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR/EWS/OBC male candidates | ₹25 |
| Female candidates | Exempt |
| SC/ST candidates | Exempt |
| PwBD candidates | Exempt |
The prescribed payment methods included credit cards, debit cards, UPI and internet banking.
Documents relevant to recruitment
Candidates should maintain the documents necessary to substantiate their application claims:
- Educational qualification certificates and degree documents.
- Age and identity documents.
- Professional experience certificates and supporting evidence.
- Applicable caste, EWS or PwBD certificates.
- Age-relaxation certificates, where claimed.
- Printed recruitment application and other documents requested for interview.
UPSC may require originals and self-attested copies during document verification.
Official application portal: upsconline.nic.in.
UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Selection Process 2027
The 28 October 2026 notice prescribes a Combined Recruitment Test followed by interviews.
Stage 1: Combined Recruitment Test
The written Recruitment Test shortlists candidates for subsequent interviews.
| Component | Officially announced pattern |
|---|---|
| Examination date | 9 January 2027 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Mode | Offline pen-and-paper-based |
| Question type | Objective multiple-choice questions |
| Language | English only |
| Question marks | Equal marks for all questions |
| Negative marking | One-third of assigned marks deducted per incorrect answer |
| Unattempted questions | No penalty |
The published notice does not specify the exact number of questions or total written-test marks. Candidates should avoid relying upon unverified numerical patterns.
Stage 2: Interview
Candidates shortlisted through the Recruitment Test must satisfy the post-specific eligibility requirements.
UPSC has announced the following interview suitability standards:
| Category | Interview suitability standard |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 50 and above |
| OBC | 45 and above |
| SC/ST | 40 and above |
| PwBD | 40 and above |
These standards relate to interview suitability. They should not be confused with written-test cut-offs or the final selection score.
Stage 3: Final selection
UPSC has prescribed the following weighting for candidates qualifying through the relevant stages:
| Selection component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Test | 75% |
| Interview | 25% |
Candidates must therefore prepare seriously for both stages.
Strong statutory knowledge assists written performance, while practical legal understanding and courtroom experience support interview preparation.
UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Recruitment Exam 2026-27: Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern and PYQs
UPSC has expressly prescribed 15 statutory subjects for the January 2027 Combined Recruitment Test.
This syllabus is shared across the 16 recruitment cases listed in the notice. It is not an exclusive paper designed only for Delhi APP candidates.
Official syllabus
| No. | Act or subject |
|---|---|
| 1 | Constitution of India |
| 2 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 |
| 3 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 |
| 4 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 |
| 5 | Information Technology Act, 2000 |
| 6 | Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 |
| 7 | Companies Act, 2013 |
| 8 | Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 |
| 9 | Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 |
| 10 | Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 |
| 11 | Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 |
| 12 | Competition Act, 2002 |
| 13 | Trade Marks Act, 1999 |
| 14 | Indian Contract Act, 1872 |
| 15 | Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 |
Source: Official UPSC Combined Recruitment Test syllabus, 28 October 2026.
Criminal law and criminal procedure
Candidates should prioritize the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
Suggested revision areas include offenses, general exceptions, arrest, investigation, bail, charges, trials, admissibility of evidence and examination of witnesses.
These are preparation-oriented subtopics. UPSC has not issued separate chapter-wise marks allocations.
Candidates practicing older papers must also understand the transition from IPC, CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act to the new criminal statutes.
Constitutional law
Focus on fundamental rights, constitutional remedies, judicial review, separation of powers and constitutional protections relevant to criminal proceedings.
Relevant constitutional judgments should be studied alongside the provisions they interpret.
Special criminal and regulatory legislation
The IT Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act deserve dedicated attention.
Candidates should understand the statutory framework, investigating authorities, procedural safeguards and significant judicial interpretations.
Commercial and economic legislation
The syllabus also includes the Companies Act, Competition Act, Contract Act, Trade Marks Act and Geographical Indications Act.
These subjects broaden the examination beyond conventional criminal prosecution.
Accordingly, preparing only criminal law would leave substantial portions of the officially prescribed syllabus uncovered.
UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Salary and Job Profile
The Delhi APP post falls under Pay Level 10 of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.
The governing Delhi recruitment rules specify a pay-matrix range of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500.
Actual monthly remuneration depends upon applicable allowances, deductions and government service rules. The pay-matrix range should not be mistaken for take-home salary.
The post is classified as a permanent, Group A, Gazetted, Non-Ministerial position.
Probation and training
The Delhi APP recruitment advertisement specifies a probation period of two years.
It also provides for mandatory induction training of at least two weeks for direct recruits.
These conditions are reflected in the Delhi APP Recruitment Rules published in the Delhi Gazette.
Principal responsibilities
An Assistant Public Prosecutor may be required to conduct prosecutions, evaluate evidence, examine witnesses, make legal submissions and advise investigating authorities.
The role demands professional independence and fairness towards the accused, victims and the court.
Public prosecution concerns the administration of justice, not merely securing convictions.
UPSC APP Previous-Year Question Papers (PYQs) and Answer Keys
Previous-year question papers help candidates understand examination terminology, question construction and the application of legal provisions.
However, earlier papers may follow older criminal laws and different recruitment-test syllabi.
Available UPSC APP question-paper resources
| Recruitment reference | Paper/resource | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Advertisement 12/2025, CBI APP, test conducted in January 2026 | UPSC-hosted recruitment question paper | Official PDF |
| 2021 Delhi APP | Earlier paper listed by a preparation provider | Testbook PYQ collection |
| 2021 CBI APP | Earlier paper listed by a preparation provider | Testbook PYQ collection |
| 2017 CBI APP | Earlier paper listed by a preparation provider | Testbook PYQ collection |
| 2015 APP | Earlier paper listed by a preparation provider | Testbook PYQ collection |
The 2025-advertisement CBI APP question paper is listed in UPSC’s official recruitment archive. The third-party collection identifies older papers as official papers, but their downloadable copies were not independently authenticated here. Access may require registration.
Candidates should also examine the UPSC Recruitment Test question-paper archive.
Official answer keys
UPSC maintains a separate Recruitment Test Answer Keys portal.
A verified official answer key for the forthcoming January 2027 examination is not available, because the test has not yet taken place.
Candidates should verify any earlier answer key against the specific advertisement and vacancy number.
How to use previous-year papers
First, attempt an available paper within its originally prescribed duration.
Next, identify questions testing statutory language, exceptions and judicial interpretation.
Then, compare provisions from older laws with the corresponding new criminal statutes wherever applicable.
Finally, revise mistakes systematically rather than memorizing answers without understanding their legal basis.
How to Prepare for UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Exam 2027
1. Follow the latest official syllabus
Begin with the 15 subjects expressly listed in the October 2026 notice.
Avoid assuming that general knowledge, essay writing or separate language papers form part of this particular test.
2. Build a strong foundation in criminal law
Study BNS, BNSS and BSA through their statutory provisions and relevant case law.
Particular attention should be given to the practical relationship between substantive offenses, procedural requirements and admissible evidence.
3. Prepare all notified special statutes
Create concise notes on each Act’s objectives, important definitions, regulatory authorities, offenses and powers.
Do not omit commercial statutes merely because the recruited position concerns prosecution.
4. Practice objective questions regularly
Use properly verified PYQs where available, alongside clearly labeled practice MCQs.
For each question, identify the controlling legal provision and the reason competing answers are incorrect.
5. Manage negative marking carefully
The one-third deduction makes accuracy an essential component of examination strategy.
Candidates should practice selecting well-supported answers while avoiding unsupported guesses.
6. Prepare for the interview alongside the written test
Review practical criminal procedure, prosecutorial ethics, evidentiary objections and relevant judgments.
Candidates with litigation experience should prepare to explain their professional work precisely.
7. Follow official updates
Monitor UPSC for admit cards, test-centre instructions, revised notices and interview schedules.
The Commission has expressly stated that requests for changes to test centers will not be entertained.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor Recruitment Test scheduled?
UPSC has scheduled the Combined Recruitment Test for 9 January 2027, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
2. How many Delhi APP vacancies were advertised in 2026?
Advertisement No. 11/2026 advertised 140 Assistant Public Prosecutor vacancies in the Government of NCT of Delhi.
3. Can fresh LL.B. graduates apply for Delhi APP recruitment?
The Delhi advertisement requires three years of experience at the Bar. A fresh graduate without the prescribed experience ordinarily does not satisfy this requirement.
4. Is the UPSC APP examination objective or descriptive?
The January 2027 Recruitment Test is an offline objective examination consisting of multiple-choice questions.
5. Is there negative marking?
Yes. Every incorrect answer attracts a deduction equal to one-third of the marks assigned to that question.
6. Are BNS, BNSS and BSA included in the 2027 syllabus?
Yes. All three statutes are expressly included in the Combined Recruitment Test syllabus.
7. What is the salary of a Delhi Assistant Public Prosecutor?
The position carries Pay Level 10, corresponding to ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 in the applicable pay matrix.
8. Is there an interview after the written examination?
Yes. UPSC has prescribed a Recruitment Test and interview, carrying respective weightages of 75% and 25%.
Official Resources and Important Links
Candidates should rely on original UPSC documents for recruitment-related decisions.
- UPSC Official Website
- UPSC Advertisement No. 11/2026
- Combined Recruitment Test Notice and Syllabus, 28 October 2026
- Delhi APP OBC Clarification
- Delhi Assistant Public Prosecutor Recruitment Rules
- UPSC Recruitment Test Question Papers
- UPSC Recruitment Test Answer Keys
Conclusion
The UPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor recruitment offers an established government legal career pathway for eligible advocates.
For the January 2027 examination, candidates should follow the newly announced combined syllabus, understand negative marking and prepare across all 15 prescribed statutory subjects.
The strongest preparation strategy combines authoritative statutory reading, careful PYQ analysis, regular objective-question practice and practical legal understanding.
Last updated: 14 November 2026. Recruitment conditions, examination instructions and subsequent notices remain subject to the Union Public Service Commission’s official communications.
